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Swimming Baths and Paddling Pools Controlled by the Council
Brentford Indoor Swimming Baths -
Area 2.430 sq.ft.
Capacity 12,049 c. ft.
Total number of persons using baths in 1963 64.569
Average number per day 184
Maximum number using baths on one day 492
Chiswick Open Air Swimming Pools:-
Large Pool Area 7,500 sq.ft.
Capacity 33,750 c. ft
Snail Pool Area 3 500 sq.ft.
Capacity 18,375 c. ft.
Total number of persons using baths in 1963 69,465
Average number per day 466
Maximum number using baths on one day 2 932
The variation in figures from year to year is a very clear indication of
the type of summer weather. The year was cold, wet and dull as was the previous
year and the figures for the indoor bath increased in each of the years over
those for 1961 by almost the same number as those for the Open Air Pools fell
the total for the two being nearly the same in 1961, 1962 and 1963, This is
quite interesting since the two places are over two miles apart.
The source of the water in the swimming baths was the mains supply of the
Metropolitan Water Board, In both the indoor bath and the outdoor pools the
water went through a continuous filtration process, the rate of change-over
being about once every three hours in the indoor bath, about once every eight
hours in the large open air pool and once every six hours in the smaller open
air pool. Topping up to allow for loss by evaporation or removal was done several
times weekly. Additional purification was carried out by means of intermittent
chlorination, the amount of free chloride aimed at being 0.6 parts per
million Water samples were taken two to three times daily throughout the
season for the purposes of chemical analysis and pH estimation.
Water sampling was carried out frequently from both Brentford and Chiswick
Baths, Brentford gave excellent results except at the very start of the season
but results were bad for the Chiswick Pools after every crowded occasion throughout
the summer and chlorination had to be increased greatly.
To keep down growth of algae, "Panacide" continued to be used during the
first part of the summer season in the Chiswick Pools, but the use of this sub
stance was discontinued after the middle of July, as there was no simple way of
testing the concentration of Panacide in the water, and when over dosage occurred
the green deposit from the substance made the water as cloudy as algae would
have done, so its purpose was not being achieved. A scheme for the introduction
of break point chlorination equipment was put in hand to be installed during
the winter to be ready for use in the summer of 1964,
Paddling Pools Duke s Meadows:-
Area (2 pools each 60' x 60 ) 7,200 sq. ft.
Depth 6" to 1' in middle
These paddling pools are emptied and refilled daily from the mains supply
and ½ Pint Chloros is added at each filling,
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